Celosia plant named ‘BKCECAPI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘BKCECAPI’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; bright reddish purple-colored flowers arranged on tall and narrow conical compound spikes; and good interiorscape and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia plumosa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKCECAPI’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Beekenkamp Plants B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Sep. 17, 2020, application number 2020/2210. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Celosia plant, botanically known as Celosia plumosa and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKCECAPI’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Celosia plants that have unique and attractive flowers, long flowering period and good interiorscape and garden performance.

The new Celosia plant originated from a cross-pollination in June, 2014 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Celosia plumosa identified as code number 99-0245, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Celosia plumosa identified as code number 99-0913, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Celosia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since June, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Celosia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKCECAPI’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKCECAPI’ as a new and distinct Celosia plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Bright reddish purple-colored flowers arranged on tall and         narrow conical compound spikes.     -   5. Good interiorscape and garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia have bright reddish purple-colored         flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have         purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia have bright reddish purple- colored         flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection have         yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia plumosa ‘BKCELANP’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,590. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Celosia differ primarily from ‘BKCELANP’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of         ‘BKCELANP’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘BKCELANP’.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia have bright reddish purple- colored         flowers whereas plants of ‘BKCELANP’ have bright pink-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKCECAPI’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical developing and developed inflorescences and the upper and lower surfaces of leaves of ‘BKCECAPI’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 11-cm containers during the autumn in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under commercial cultural practices typical of Celosia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 15 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia plumosa ‘BKCECAPI’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             plumosa identified as code number 99-0245, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             plumosa identified as code number 99-0913, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 22 days             at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 26 days             at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically             grown as a potted plant; upright plant habit; elliptic to             obovate in overall shape; freely branching habit with about             two basal branches each with about six lateral branches             developing per plant; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 29.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 53             cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 33 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12.4 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close             to 150D slightly tinged with close to 68C. Color, developed:             Close to N170D; distally, strongly tinged with close to 151A             and 151B; towards the base, close to 63B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to close to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Long apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire, moderately undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly             rugose, glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B and             144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; irregularly             flushed with close to 200A; venation, close to 157D tinged             with close to 65B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Close to 146B; venation, close to N148C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm to             3 mm. Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 157D; towards the margins, close to             148A to darker than 148A; proximal end, tinged with close to             65A. Color, lower surface: Close to 157A to 157B; towards             the margins, close to 146; proximal end, tinged with close             to 65B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged             in long and narrow conical terminal compound spikes; flowers             face upright to outwardly depending on position on spike.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 180             flowers per inflorescence and about 2,500 flowers developing             per plant during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after pinching; under natural season conditions,             flowering continuous from spring into the autumn in The             Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Celosia             have good longevity and plants maintain good substance for             about six weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 27.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 9 mm by 9 mm.         -   Flower height.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to 64A to 64B.         -   Petals.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically six per flower             arranged in two whorls. Length: About 6.5 mm. Width: About             1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to N74D; midvein, close to 72B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to N74C to N74D; midvein,             close to 72B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74D to             lighter than N74D; midvein, close to 72B; color becoming             closer to 76B and midvein, closer to 72C, with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N74D; midvein, close             to 72B; color becoming closer to 76B and midvein, closer to             72C, with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 27.3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: Upright to about 25° from vertical. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color: Close to between 69A and 182D strongly flushed             with close to 148B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.75 mm.             Angle: About 50° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 70C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to N74A             to N74B. Anther size: About 0.3 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 183C. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter: About             1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped, three-parted. Stigma color:             Close to N74A. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color:             Close to N74B. Ovary color: Close to N74B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Celosia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Celosia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Celosia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 9 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘BKCECAPI’ as illustrated and described. 